01
nötig
necessary
Required or necessary in order to achieve a specific goal or fulfill a condition.
example
Für die Einreise ist ein gültiger Reisepass nötig.
A valid passport is necessary for entry.
nötig
necessary
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Word family
The adjective 'nötig' (necessary) is closely related to the noun 'die Not' (need/distress). 'Not' means a difficult situation or a shortage. Something that is 'nötig' (necessary) therefore helps you get out of a difficult situation or remedy a shortage.
EXAMPLE
Wir müssen sparen, weil das Geld knapp ist und jeder Euro nötig ist.
We have to save money because funds are tight and every euro is necessary.
Sentence structure with 'es'
'Nötig' (necessary) is very often used in impersonal sentences with 'es' (it). The constructions 'es ist nötig, dass ...' (it is necessary that ...) or 'es ist nötig, ... zu ...' (it is necessary to ...) are typical for expressing necessity.
EXAMPLE
Es ist nötig, das Formular bis morgen auszufüllen.
It is necessary to fill out the form by tomorrow.
Use with a preposition
When you want to state the purpose or condition for which something is necessary, use the preposition 'für' (for) followed by the accusative.
EXAMPLE
Für diesen Job sind gute Sprachkenntnisse nötig.
Good language skills are necessary for this job.
Fixed expression
The colloquial expression 'etwas nötig haben' (to badly need something) follows a fixed pattern: the person is the subject, followed by 'haben' (to have), the object in the accusative, and 'nötig' (necessary). It is often intensified by adverbs such as 'dringend' (urgently/badly) or 'wirklich' (really).
EXAMPLE
Du siehst müde aus, du hast eine Pause wirklich nötig.
You look tired; you really need a break.
Compare with
nötig vs brauchen
to need
'brauchen' and 'nötig' both express that something is necessary. 'brauchen' is a verb and is usually used with a person or thing that needs something: 'Wir brauchen Hilfe.' (We need help.) 'nötig' is an adjective and describes that something is required: 'Hilfe ist nötig.' (Help is necessary.) The words can be confused because they are very close in meaning. Pay attention to the sentence form: with 'brauchen', you say who needs something; with 'nötig', you evaluate whether something is necessary.
nötig
Nach dem Unterricht ist eine kurze Pause nötig.
After the lesson, a short break is necessary.
brauchen
Ihr braucht wegen des Wetters warme Jacken.
You need warm jackets because of the weather.
In real life
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